Signor to chisholm



(No Model.)

3 ASheets-Sheet 1.

B. C. WHITE & J. A. BOYD.

BRICK MACHINE.

Patented June 3,

n urna., wAsNlNnTnN, D. a.

3 Sheets-Sheds 2.

(No Model.)

B. C. WHITE 8v J. A. BOYD.

BRICK MACHINE.

Patented June 3, 1890.

rn: mms sans en.. nimo-umu., wsmnmou, n. c.

3 sheets-sheet s.

Patented June 3,

BRIGK MAGHIN.

B. o. WHITE su LA. BOYD.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRUCE CLARK WHITE AND JAMES A. BOYD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AS- SIGNOR TO CHISHOLM, BOYD & WHITE, OF SAME PLACE.

BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,296, dated June 3, 189C.

Application iiled January 2, 1889'. Serial No. 295,160. (No model.) y

' of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of machines for making brick in which the clay to form the bricks is compressed within a mold by means of two opposing plungers which are moved toward each other in compressing the brick and are moved to accomplish the discharge of the finished brick from the mold, and are also moved within the mold during the act of compressing the brick in such manner as to give the brick smooth or polished edges.

The invention embraces more particularly improvements in a machine illustrated in a prior application made by B. C. White and James A. Boyd, April 10, 1888, Serial No. 270,210.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating our invention, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a machine embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a vert-ical cross-section thereof, taken uponline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan section taken upon line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4L is a detail section taken upon line et lof Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isadetail elevation ofa device for adjusting the depth of the mold at the time of filling the same, hereinafter described. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are detail views, illustrating the operation of the devices for actuating the lower plunger. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate in side and end elevations modified forms of construction in the devices for adjusting the depth of the mold at the time of filling the same. Figs. 12 and 13 are det-ail views of modified forms of construction, illustrating the operation of the dearranged parallel with each other at opposite sides of the machine and attached to a mas sive base A which connects the said frameplates at the bottom of the machine. The said frame-plates A A embrace two vertical standards A2 A2, affording bearings for the vertically-movable parts of the machine, and said frame-plates are connected with each other at the top of the frame by a horizontal cross-girt A2.

B is a mold-table, which is located ata con venient distance above the base A', and is arranged horizontally between and bolted at its ends to the vertical standards A2 A2 of the frame. Within the said mold-table are located the molds C C, of which the machine shown is provided with three. Said moldtable is herein shown as comprising two separate'castings B B2, Fig. 8, located in front and rear of the molds, which latter are formed by means of inwardly-projecting parts B3 B2, cast upon the front and rear port-ions B B2 of the table and meeting at the center line of the table. The castings B B2 are held together by means of horizontal bolts b b, passing through said casting between the molds and at the ends of the castings, in the man` 11er shown. g

The castings B B are secured to the framestandards A2 A2 by means of horizontal bolts b b', inserted through wings b2 b2 at the ends ot' the castings B B2 and through said standards. Said parts'B B2 of the mold-table, for the purpose of giving a rigid and unyielding support to the said table and to prevent the same from springing or yielding in its center under the heavy strain incident to pressing the brick, are provided with vertical webs BG B2, which extend downwardly to and rest or bear throughout their full length upon the frame-base A. The said webs are desirably provided with horizontal lianges at their lower edges, through which iianges and the base are inserted bolts h6 o7, affording a rigid connection between the parts. The webs B6 B7, bolted at the frame -base in the manner shown, serve to transmit to said base a part of the strain coming upon the table, and at the same ti me hold the adjacent parts rigidly and strongly from either lateral or vertical displacement when the machine is in action.

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Said webs B BT are provided with openings at points beneath the molds in the manner shown, to afford access to the lower plungers for supplying steam thereto and for reaching the adjusting devices connected therewith,

which are hereinafter described.

To aord a strong connection between the mold-table and the frame-standards A2, the latter are provided with notches or mortises a a, Fig. 2, at their inner faces, within which notches or mortises the ends of the castings B' B2 are inserted, and within which they are held by means of the bolts b' b. The castings B' B2 in the particular construction shown form the parts of the mold-table immediately adjacent to the molds. Horizonal extensions of said table at the front and rear of the molds, for the purpose of supporting the feeding devices for the clay and the finished bricks, are formed by a horizont-al plate Bl at the front of themolds, which plate is bolted to the casting B in the manner shown, and by a second horizontal plate Bi", which is located at the rear of the casting B2 and is sustained by attachment to the horizontal parts of the frame-plates in the manner illustrated.

D D are a series of plungers constructed to enter and slide in the upper parts of the molds C C, said plungers being attached to a horizontal cross-head D', located above the mold-table B.

E E are lower plungers constructed to slide in molds C C and attached to a single rigid cross-head E', located beneath said mold-table.

F F are two heavy vertical bars, which are mounted in guide-surfaces a' a', formed in the inner faces of the frame-standards A2 A2, and engaging corresponding guide-surfaces upon the bars. Said bars extend from a point near the bottom of the machine, through the ends of the mold-table B, to points near the upper ends of the frame-standards A2 A2. The bars are held or guided at two points only-one at the top of the frame-standards and the other just above the mold-table-the guide-surfaces a a' being relatively short and located at these places only.

G G are toggle-arms, which are pivoted, respectively, to the upper ends of the slide-bars F F and the upper cross-head D'. The upper end of the upper toggle-arm G is desirably made the full width of the space between the slide-bars F F, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2, and said toggle-arm is pivotally connected with the said slide-bars by means of a heavy pivot-pin G2, fixed at its ends in the slide-bars and extending through a long bearing-aperture in the toggle-arm. The lower togglearm G is constructed to enter a recess in the upper surface of the cross-head D', and is pivotally connected with the latter by means of a pivot-pin G3, inserted through bearing-aperture in opposite ends of said cross-head and in the lower end of `said toggle-arm. The toggle-armsG G are pivotally connected with each other by means of a heavy pin G4, in-

serted through the overlappin g forked ends of said toggle-arms, said pin being also adapted to engage a heavy beam H, by which power is applied to the toggle-arms. Said beam engages the center of the pin G4, and the toggle-arms are centrally recessed to atford space for the entrance of the end of said beam between their parts in bearing with the pin in the manner illustrated in the drawings.

l is a heavy crank-shaft mounted in bearings in the frame-plates A A, said crankshaft being located approximately in the same horizontal plane with the pivot-piu G and some distance to the rear of the togglearms. Said crank-shaft is provided with a heavy crank-pin l', with which the beam ll is engaged. The said crank-shaft Iis so disposed with relation to the toggle-arms G G that in the rotation of said shaft said toggle-arms will be alternately straightened out and flexed by the action of the crank and beam, Said part-s are so disposed, furthermore, that the toggle-arms will be straightened out or brought into alignment with each other at the time the crank-pin is at the extreme limit ot' its throw away from the toggie-arms.

J is a pin or shaft mounted horizontally upon the trame-plates A A, beneath the beam ll, and having its ends secured in two hubs ai a4 upon the frame-plates. Upon said shaft are ymounted two vertically-arranged oscillating arms J' J', which are recessed at their upper ends and are adapted to engage the ends of the heavy pins H' and 112, which are sceured in the beam lil between its ends and preferably nearer that end of the beam e11- gaged with the toggles G G'. The rocking arms J J' engage the beam ll as the latteris moved in the turning of the crank-shaft and serve as fulcrums or point of support for the beam, so that the latter operates as it is moved by the crank-shaft to raise and lower the toggle-arms, the slide-bars,the upper and lower cross-head, and the plungers. A vertical movement is thus given to the upper and lower plungers for discharging the brick from the mold and for moving the brick within the mold to smooth and polish the edges of the brick during the conlpression of the same and to enable the clay to be fed to the molds, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

K is a heavy drive-wheel afiixed to the shaft .I outside of the frame-plate A. Said drivewheel is provided with peripheral cogs which engage a pinion K', mounted upon a stud K2, located at the rear part of the frame, said stud having upon it a belt-pulley K3, over which may be placed a driving-belt for transmi tting power to the machine.

L is a sliding feed-box which rests and slides upon the top of the mold-table B5 at the rear side of the molds. Said feed-box consists ot' a horizontal plate or casting pro-` TOO TIO

vided at itsI end adjacent to the molds with rectangular openingsv L L', corresponding in horizontal dimensions and in number with the molds C C C. The openings L' L' are closed at their bottoms by the mold-table upon which the feed-box rests, except when said feed-box is moved forward to bring said openings over the molds.

M is a stationary feed-hopper located over the sliding feed-box L at a point adjacent to. the upper plungers D. Said feed-box L has a horizontal reciprocatory motion through a distance sufficient to carry the openings L' L' over the molds C C and under the feedhopper. When beneath the hopper, the feedboX receives material from the same, and such material is discharged into the molds when the feed-box is moved forward.

At the rear of the receptacle L L the feedbox is provided with a smooth horizontal top surface L4, which extends the` full width ofV the feed-box and is somewhat longer than the distance through which the latter travels in operation. Said surface L4 is for the purpose of supporting material within the hopper during the time the feed-box is being moved forwardly to carry the clay to the mold.

N is a rock-shaft mounted at its ends in the frame-plates A A and provided with an upwardly-extending arm N', which engages a cam K4 upon the drive-wheel K, and with two depen ding arms N2 N2, which are connected by pitmen N3 N3 with the opposite sides of the feed-box, in the manner clearly shown in the drawings, Figs. l and 2. The cam K4 is a grooved cam, adapted to engage a roller n upon the arm N', and is so shaped as to advance the feed-box over the molds at the time the upper plunger is lifted above the same,

The construction and operation of the main parts of the machine above described are substantially the same as that of the corresponding parts of the machine shown in said prior application, Serial No. 270,210, the compression of the brick being produced solelyv by the action of the toggle-arms operating through the medium of the slide-bars F F in the upper and lower cross-heads D E', while the vertical position of the plungers within the molds is determined by the action of the beam H and rocking arms J J except when the cross-heads carrying the plungers bear against their stops. As shown in said application, a roller is placed beneath the beam and is adapted to engage the latter in its forward movement, by which the plungers are lifted in ejecting the brick from the mold, said roller engaging the beam at a point nearer the crank-shaft I' than the pin H, so that after the fulcrum of the lever has been shifted from the rocking arms and pin to the roller a relatively rapid and extended upward movement of the plungers is accomplished. As herein shown, however, any such roller is absent, and the beam H is provided, between the pin H and the crank-pin, with upwardly against the plungers.

the second pin H2, arranged parallel with the pin H', while the rocking arm J is made in the form 0f the segment of a cog-wheel and is provided with two notches]l j', adapted to respectively engage the pins H H2. By this construction the same result is produced as obtained by the rollerin a more simple manner, it being entirely obvious that as the bealn is carried forward to dex the togglearms and lift the plungers the fulcrum of the beam will be shifted from the pin H to the pin H2, so that the beam will act in lifting the plungers at first with greater power and slower motion, and afterward with less power and greater speed. In the particular construction of the parts last referred to, as herein illustrated, the pins H2 H are connected by a bridge-piece H2, which rides upon the toothprojection ,7'2 between the notches j and j', so that the downward pressure of the beam will be transmitted smoothly and without jar from the pin H' to the pin H2. The rocking arm J is also desirably provided with an arm or prong L7'2 at the rear of the notch to insure the proper engagement of the pin H2 with the said notch when the fulcrum of the lever is shifted from one notch to the other. In view of the advantages obtained by the use of the segmental rocking lever in connection with a plurality of pins in the beam as a means of shifting the fulcrum of the same, this construction is herein claimed as part of our invention.

As a further improvement, the machine shown in the drawings embraces certain novel features of construct ion in the means connecting the lower plungers with the lower cross-head, by which the same are operated. Such devices are made as follows: The said lower plungers E E, instead of being positively or rigidly attached to the lower crosshead E', are vertically movable with relation to the said lower cross-head, and said plungers are sustained from the cross-head by means of weighted levers or equivalent springs engaging the cross-head and pressing By this construction the said lower plungers in certain positions of the lower cross-head may be moved vertically within the mold independently of the position of the cross-head. rPhe said plungers are, however, provided with surfaces or shoulders adapted to engage the cross-head in the upward movement of the TOO IIO

latter, so that the plungers will be positively lifted in compressing the brick. In the particular construction of these parts illustrated in the drawings the plungers E are provided with vertical depending stems E2, which pass through centrally-arranged apertures in the upper part of the cross-head E', which is debelow the plunger proper the stem E2 is provided with a shoulder e', adapted to engage the top of the cross-head.

In a machine embracing several plungers, such as is herein shown, the plungers are rigidly connected with each other by means of a transverse bar E3, which is located within the hollow interior of the cross-head and is provided with vertical apertures, through which the stems are inserted and in which they are immovably clamped.

O' is a lever pivoted at o upon the lower cross-head and provided with a short arm o2, which engages a bearing-recess e2 in the stem of one of the plungers. As herein shown, Fig. 2, the two outer plu nger-stems only are engaged with the guides O O, while the lever O' is engaged with the intermediate plungerstem only. The lever O is provided with a weight O3, said weight tending to depress the outer end of the lever and lift the plungers, and being made of suicient size to counterbalance the weight of the several lower plungers and connected parts. The said weight O3 is adjustable upon the lever in order that the lifting eiect of the lever may be varied when necessary or desirable for the perfect working of the machine.

P, Figs. l and 4, is an adjustable stop located beneath the lever O', and adapted to limit the downward movement of the same at the time the lower crosshead is at the lower limit of its movement, and to thereby determine the position of the lower plunger within the mold at this time. Said vertically-adj ustable stop P is herein shown as formed by or upon the end of a lever P', which is pivoted in a bracket p upon the frame and the free end or handle of which extends outwardly beyond the frame and has adjustable connection with a segmental platc P2, to which the lever may be clamped for holding the stop in a desired position. Said segment P2 is herein shown as provided with a slot p', which is engaged by a clamp-plate p2 upon the lever; but any other clamping or holding device may be employed. The said late P2 is furthermore desirably provided P with a scale or graduations by which the position of the lever and the stop carried thereby may be determined by inspection and said stop placed in a desired position.

The several parts above described are so arranged that the lower plunger may be sustained, either by the engagement of the shoulder e with the top of the crosshead, as illustrated in Figs. l, 7, and S, or by means of the weighted lever at the time the cross-head is free from said shoulder, as illustrated in Fig. G. The weight O3 is of such size that it will sustain the plun gers at times when there is no downward pressure upon the same due tothe action of the upper plunger. The parts are so disposed, furthermore, that when the crossliead is at the lower limit of its movement said cross-head will be f ree from the shoulder e and the lower plungers will be held up by the action of theweighted lever, the downward movement of said lever at this time being limited by the stop P, so that the position ofV the plunger within the mold at the time of filling the same is determined bythe position 0f said stop. It follows that when the lower cross-head is at the lowermost limit of its movement the lower plunger will stand above the bottom of the mold and will be supported in this position by the weighted lever, and the purpose of the adjustable stop P, which engages said lever, is to enable the position of the lower plunger within the mold at the time of iilling the same to be changed as desired. Such position of the lower plunger obviously determines the quantity of clay which is fed to the mold by the feed-box. It follows that by changing the position of the stop P at a time when the lower cross-head is at its cX- treme downward limit of travel the lower plunger may be adj usted within the mold, so that the latter will receive the quantity of clay found desirable or necessaryfor makingbricks of desired thickness,or according to the quality and condition of the clay and other circumstances. into the mold after the latter has been filled with clay, the approach of the upper plunger toward the lower plunger will cause the said lower plunger to recede, the same being sustained at this tim esolely bythe weighted lever. The position of the parts at the time the upper plunger is about to enter the mold is clearly shown in Fig. G. In the downward movement of the upper plunger the clay will of course be compacted to greater or less extent owin g to the action of the weight. Vhen the pressure on the clay exceeds the sustainin g-power of the Weight, the downward movement of the lower plunger, as the upper plunger descends in the mold, will commence and continue until the shoulder c strikes the lower cross-head, when said plunger will come to a bearing on the cross-head and its further downward movement will be arrested. The parts are desirably so arranged that the lower plunger will stop at a point near thc bottom of the mold, as clearly shownin Fig. 7, which illustrates the position of the parts when the lower plunger has reached the downward limit of its movement.

The upward 'movement of the lower crosshead for the purpose of more perfectly compressing the brick will preferably begin immediately after the said lower plunger has come to a bearing upon the lower cross-head, at which time the upper plunger will be prevented from descending farther by contact of the cross-head to which said plunger is attached, with the stops bs bs, and the compression will be completed by the lower plunger, which is then caused to rise by the further straightening of the toggle. The lower plunger will obviously be lifted to bringits upper surface flush with the top ol' ythe 1noldtable by the action of the lower cross-head, andthe W'hen the upper plunger descendsV IDO IIO

upward movement of the lower cross-headis arranged to terminate when the lower plunger reaches the top of the mold. When the plunger reaches the top of the mold, however, the downward strain upon this plunger' will be relieved, and inasmuch as the weighted lever is still tending to lift the said plunger, it might throw the same above the mold unless prevented. To prevent such result a stop e3 is placed on a stem E2 below the moldtable in position to engage the lower surface of the table or other stationary stop or proj ection upon the frame when the lower plunger reaches a point at which its top surface is flush with the top of the table. When the weighted lever is arranged to support the lower plunger level with the top of the table, the stop is employed to hold the plunger in this position, as above described, it is obviously not essential that the lower cross-head should remain immovable at the upward limit of its movement for any considerable v length of time, inasmuchas the weighted lever will sustain the lower plunger at such upward limit of its movement while the brick is being removed therefrom, even though the 'lower cross -head begins immediately to descend. It follows that by the use of the weighted lever arranged and operating as described any special construction in the actuating devices of the machine for holding the lower plungers immovable-such, for instance, as the camsurface upon the lower edge of the beam H, shown in said prior application,hereinbefore referred to-may be omitted. In the use of a weighted lever thus arranged, therefore, the rocking arm J', made in the form of a gearsegment and engaging a plurality of pins or projections upon the beam, may be employed as the sole means of sustaining the toggleactuating beam H. The employment of the weighted lever connecting the lower crosshead and the lower plunger or its equivalent, in connection with a stop arranged to limit the upward movement of the lower plunger, is therefore of great importance in a machine of the character herein shown for the reason that it renders unnecessary a careful construction and adjustment of the actuating devices to give the exact movement and dwell at the upward limit of its throw,which would otherwise be required,while at the same time the life of the machine is increased, inasmuch as the wearing parts of the bearin g-surfaces, through the medium of which the lower plungers are actuated, will not prevent the successful operation of the machine. Any such wearing of the said parts or bearing-surfaces, in cases where the position of the lower plungers with relation to the table depends solely upon the accuracy ofr adjustment and form of camsurfaces or other working parts,will obviously cause the machine to work imperfectly. An-

. other obvious advantage of this arrangement as the motion due to the flexing of the toggles, after the lower plungers have been lifted to the top of the table, may all be imparted to the descending lower cross-head, the bars, and the upper toggle-arm.

It may sometimes occur that the lower crosshead is not lifted sufficientlyY to bring the top of the lower plunger exactly ilush with the table,while at the same time there is so much frictional resist-ance to the movement of the parts that the weight will not lift the said lower plunger sufficiently to bring the stop e2 into contact with the under surface of the table. VTo provide for such contingency we place upon the lever or weight a set-screw o', so located that it will strike the under surface of the mold-table, and thereby positively actuate the weighted lever to slightly lift f the lower plunger. This set-screw will commonly be so adj usted that it will not strike the table above it; but when, by reason of wear upon the pa-rts or other cause, the lower plunger fails to come exactly flush with the table, the setscreW may be turned up sufciently to strike the table, and thereby actua-te the lever to an extent sufficient to bring the stop e3 against the bottom of the mold-table.

One important advantage gained by the employment of a weighted lever connecting the lower cross-head and plun gers arises from the fact that said plungers are thereby rendered adj ustahle for giving a large or small capacity to the molds without requiring any adjustment of the cross-heads by which said plungers vare immediately actuated. In some machines as heretofore made the descent of the lower plungers has been limited by adjustable stops placed upon the frame in position to engage the lower cross-head. In such prior construct-ion it has been found difficult to accurately'adjust the stops, as the latter become rapidly worn by the action of the lower cross-head and heavy pressing mechanism thereon. In a machine constructed as herein illustrated any accurate adjustment of the vertical position of the lower crosshead is unnecessary, and elastic stops or cushions may be arranged to receive the impact of the said lower cross-head and/parts connected therewith, if desired. In the machine herein illustrated the vertical position of the lower plungers at the time of iilling the mold is determined by the position of the adjustable stop P, and said stop, being under the control of the operator, may be shifted to give any desired depth of mold readily at any time, and during any part of the revolution of the machine without regard to the adjustment of the other parts of the machine.

Ve have herein shown the stop P as formed by`or upon an oscillating hand-lever P', butl it is entirely obvious that said stop may be sustained upon the frame in any one of many' different ways,'which will vreadily suggest themselves to a mechanic. As it relatesto and includes said adjustable stop therefore.

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our invention is not restricted to any par` ticular means for supporting or shitting the same. The scale which is provided in connection with a moving part which actuates or moves with the adjustable stop enables the stop to be easily set to give a desired dept-h of mold without actual measurement of the mold itself, the marks upon the scale corresponding with the depth of moldcavi ty, and, in view of the advantages gained by the use of such scale, the latter, when employed in connection with an adjustable stop, is also herein claimed as part of our invention.

In Figs. 2 and i) we have shown a novel construction in a stop for limiting the downward movement ot' the lower cross-head, and elastic stops or cushions connected therewith to receive the impact of the said lower crosshead and parts connected therewith. Said stop is placed at the upper end of the machine, adjacent to the pivot G2, for reasons that will hereinafter appear. As shown in said figures, the ends of said pivot G2 are extended beyond the vertical 4bars F F, at the outer faces of the same, and upon the ends of said pivots are placed two blocks Q Q, having flat lower faces adapted to engage transverse horizontal stops Q Q located upon the frame-standards A2 A2 below the said blocks Q Q. Said stops Q Q are herein shown as formed by integral horizontal ribs cast upon the inner surfaces of the frame-standards To the lower surfaces of the blocks Q Q are secured cushions q q, of rubber or other suit` able material, said cushions," as herein shown, consisting of blocks fitted in recesses in the lower surfaces of the blocks Q Q. The said blocks Q Q are adapted for easy removal from the ends of the pivot-pin G2, being for this purpose held thereon by a set-screw q', Fig. 9, or other similar means. Vhen both blocks Q Q are removed, the vertical parts F F and the lower cross-head may be dropped slightly below their normal position and a sufficient distance to carry the top surface ot' the lower plunger clear of the molds, thereby enabling the lower plunger or plunger-plates to be re moved from the machine for renewal or repairs without takingthe machine apart. This is an important advantage in machines of this character, for the reason that the taking apart oi the machine-frame is a very expensive and troublesome operation.

Q2 Q2 are removable plates secured in the frame-standards A2A2, opposite the blocks Q Q, and adapted to be readily taken oil" to expose the blocks Q Q when it is desired to inspect or remove the same.

The molds C C ot the machine herein shown are provided with side lining-plates c c and end lining-plates c c', the end lining-plates extending past the ends oi' the side lining plates so thatl all of the lining-plates are held in position by the clamping action of the horizontal bolts Z) ZJ and of thescrew-threaded stems c2 c2, which are formed upon the partitions C C', in the same manner described in the said prior application. When this construction is used, the lining-plates may be easily removed from the mold by loosening up the said bolts b l) and the nuts upon the stems c3 ci.

As hereinbefore stated, the adjustable stop for limiting the downward movement ot' the weighted lever, and thereby' controlling the position of the lower plunger within the mold at the time of illin g the same, may be mounted upon the frame and adj ustably supported in any manner found convenient or desirable. In Figs. l0 and ll I have shown a construction in the said stop and means for actuating the same having some advantages over that hereinbeiore described. As illustrated in said Figs. 10 and ll, R is a horizontal rockshaft mounted upon the frame-base atthe rear of the lower plungers and provided with a crank-arm R', which is located in the path of the weighted lever and serves as a stop tor the same. At the end ot' said shaft R, out-side ot' the frame, a worm-wheel R2 is attached to said shaft. R3 is a worm-shaft mounted in Asuitable bearings at the side ot the frame and provided with a worm r, which engages the worm-wheel R2. At the upper end of said shaft R3, in position convenient for the operator, is located a hand-crank r. The face of the wornrwheel R2 is desirahly provided with an index or scale, and a pointer r2 is attached to the frame in position opposite the said index or scale, said scale and pointer serving to indicate to the attendant the exact vertical position of the lever-arm R. A construction ot' this kind has the advantage that the stop is always locked securely from movement without any attention on the part of the operator, the wormwvheel being incapable of movement excepting when the worm-shaft is turned.

XVe have hereinbefore referred to the employment ot' a spring in place ot' a weight as a means of movably sustaining the lower plunger from the lower cross-head. A con? struction of this kind is illustrated in Fig. 12, wherein a lever S is employed, which lever is arranged and operates in the same manner as the lever P. (Shown in the other figures of the drawings.) In this instance, however, a coiled spring S is connected with said le- IOO IIO

ver S and with a lug s upon the lower crosshead, said spring acting to pull the outer arm ot' the lever downwardly, and thereby hold the lower plunger elevated, except when the same is depressed by the action of the upper plunger upon the clay within the mold, in the same manner as hereinbefore described in connection with the weighted lever. `A nut s', placed upon the screw-threaded end of the spring S, which passes through the lugs, affords a means of adjusting the teu sion of the spring.

that the stop P operates in this instance to raise the outer end of the lever against the It will of course be seen action ofthe spring .when lthe lower crosshead is vnear the lower limit of its movement, thereby determining the position of the lower plunger within the niold at the time of filling' the saine, in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth.

In Fig. 13 is illustrated still another construction in devices for yieldingly supporting the lower plunger upon the lower cross-head. In this instance T is a spring placed around the pl unger-stem Ebetween a collar'l",aftiXed on the upper part of the stem, and a crosspiece upon the cross-head. U is a setscrew passing vertically through the top of the cross-tree and engaging an arm t upon the collar T. Said spring serves to lift the lower plunger in the same manner as the weighted lever above described, and the setscrew operates as a stop to determine the position of the plungerwithin the mold at the time of filling the same in the same manner as liereinbefore stated in connection with the stop P, illustrated' in other iigures of the drawings.

We claim as our inventionl. The combination, with amold and plungers working therein, of means for actuating the plungers, embracing toggle-arms connected with the opposite plungers, a cra-nkshaft, a beam connected with the said crankshaft aiid with the middle joint of the toggle-arms, and a shifting fulcrum for the beam, comprising a pivotally-supported arm upon the frame provided with a plurality of bearing recesses or notches, and a plurality of pins or projections upon the beam severally7 engaging the recesses or notches of said arm, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a niold and upper and lower plungers working therein, of upper and lower cross-heads connected with the said plun gers, vertical slide-bars attached to the lower cross-head, toggle-arms connected with the slide-bars and the upper plunger, a

crank-shaft, a beam connecting the middle joint of the toggle-arms with said crankshaft, a pivot-rod connecting the upper toggle-arms with the vertical slide-bars, remov v able blocks moun ted upon said pivot-rod, and stationary stops upon the machine-fraine lo,- cated in position to engage said blocks for limiting the downward movement of the slide-bars and lower cross-head, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a mold, of upper and lower plungers slidin g therein and means for actuating the lower plunger, having elastic or yielding connection therewith permitting downward inoveinentof said lower plunger relatively to the actuating devices, and stops or shoulders limiting such downward movement or yielding of said plunger with relation to said actuating device, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a mold, of upper and lower plun gers sliding therein, means for actuating the lower plunger, having yielding connection therewith, stops or shoulders limiting the downward movement or yielding of the plunger, and an adjustable stop limiting the upward movement of the plunger relatively to the parts which actuate the same, substantially as described.v

5. The combination, with a mold and up,- per and lower plungers sliding therein, ot means for actuating the lower plunger, comprising a reciprocating cross-head engaged with and supporting the said lower plunger and having sliding connection therewith, and a weighted lever connected with the plunger and lower cross-head and serving to sustain the lower plunger yieldingly in an elevated position relatively to the cross-head, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a mold, of upper and lower plungers sliding therein, means for actuating the lower plunger, comprising a reciprocating cross-head having sliding engagement with the lower plunger, a weighted lever connecting the lower cross-head withy the lower plunger and sustaining the lower plunger yieldingly in an elevated position rela-tively to the cross-head, and an adjustable stop limiting the movement of the said weighted lever, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a mold, of upper,

and lower plun gers sliding therein, means for actuating the lower plunger, having yielding connection therewith, an adjustable stop limiting the upward movement of the lower plunger relatively to the actuating devices, and ak scale or index marked to indicate therdepth of mold as determined by the position of said adjustable stop, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a mold and lower cross-head, of a lower plunger which is movable vertically with relation to the crosshead, and a weighted lever pivoted upon the IOO cross-liead and acting upon the plunger, said lever being provided with a vertically-ad-v j ustable stop limiting the upward movement of the lever by contact with an adjacent partof the machine frame, wherebyV the lower plunger may be brought tiush with the top of the mold, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a mold and upper and lower plungers working therein, and means for actuating the plungers, comprising toggle-arms connected with both plungers and with the lower plunger byan elastic or yielding connection allowing a limited downward movement of ,the said lowei' plunger relatively to the toggle-arms connected with it, a crank-shaft, a beam connected with said crank-shaft and with the middle joint of the toggle arms, and a pivotally supported or notched arm 'upon the machine-frame, said beam being provided with a plurality of pins or projections engaging the notches of said arm. y l

10. The combination of a mold, upper and IIO lower plungers, toggle-arms connected with both plungers and movable vertically at both In testimony that we claim Jche foregoing as ends with the plungers, a toggle-operating our invention We afixour signatures in presbeam fulerumed between its ends and oonence of two witnesses.

neeted with the Central joint of the toggle,

5 and :L stationary stop or stops locatedin po- B. CLARK WHITE. sition to engage the upper plunger and limit JAMES A. BOYD. ille descent of the same, and thereby opeleting to determine the vertical position of the Witnesses: plungers within the mold :it the time of gieat- TAYLOR E. BROWN,

ro est compression, substantially es described. GEO. W. IlIGGINS, J1'. 

